52 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19-20. 



and ceilings of these halls, painting walls and ceilings of comfort 

 room and rooms 223 and 224 on third floor, painting floors in west 

 north and west ranges, repointing open seams in the granite courses 

 and ledges on exterior and court walls and the stone steps at south 

 entrance, the painting of exterior surface of metal window frames of 

 first and second stories, and painting gutters. The building in the 

 c~-t -onrt was remodeled for use as a laboratory. 



In the Arib ,^_a industries Building the exterior woodwork of the 

 windows was painted; a iiu^w f wa u s ' m the exhibition halls, 

 offices, and laboratories were repainted, meiua^g the cafe* and an 

 additional dark room was constructed in the photographic laboratory. 



An improved system of ventilation was installed in the mascerating 

 room in the south shed. 



The deficiency act above referred to also provided the sum of 

 $14,000 to enable the regents of the Smithsonian to heat and fit up for 

 the exhibition of aircraft and accessories the temporary metal struc- 

 ture erected in the Smithsonian Grounds by the War Department, 

 with the understanding that the custody and control of the building 

 be transferred to the regents of the Institution by the Secretary of 

 War. Immediately after the building was turned over to the Insti- 

 tution in November, the old heating equipment was condemned and 

 sold and arrangements made to heat and light the building from the 

 power plant of the National Museum. Steam pipes were run from 

 the Arts and Industries Building, and electric lights were provided 

 for use on dark days and for police purposes at night. 



To make the interior of the building suitable for exhibition pur- 

 poses, a concrete floor was laid in place of the wooden floor, which 

 had deteriorated to an extent that made its use impossible. The 

 entire ceiling and side walls were sheathed, covered with wall board, 

 and painted. Ventilators were installed at either end of the build- 

 ing, a concrete platform constructed at the east end of the build- 

 ing, and a glazed vestibule built at this end to be used as a public 

 entrance. A combination storage, workroom, and office was parti- 

 tioned off in the southeast corner and a new comfort room constructed. 

 The doors on the north side were closed, two doors on the west side 

 remodeled as emergency exits, and the exterior of the building was 

 painted. 



The additions to the furniture this year included 30 exhibition cases 

 and bases, 229 storage cases and pieces of laboratory and office furni- 

 ture, 198 standard unit drawers, 602 insect drawers, and 388 special 

 drawers. 



The power plant was closed for two months and eight days, during 

 which time electric current for light and power was purchased from 

 the Potomac Electric Power Co., under special contract made by the 

 Treasury Department. 



